Elevator misbehaves and sends man 31 floors up crashing into the top - General

[QUOTE]The elevator shot upwards around 80kph (50mph) and hit the top of the building at the 31st floor. The man remains in a serious condition in hospital.[/QUOTE] [video=youtube;SYy7xYRrZh0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYy7xYRrZh0[/video]

Adding that to my list of feared freak events.

time to never use an elevator again

Always hated elevators, there's always something wrong with them, I hope the guy recovers, what a shitty thing to happen.

How did that even happen?

[QUOTE=Glorbo;45037156]How did that even happen?[/QUOTE] probably a brake failure and the counterweight falling down.

this is why I mostly avoid elevators unless I have to walk ten flights of stairs or something

i wonder, would lying on the floor be the best option in this situation?

[IMG]http://www.socialbookshelves.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/318864.jpg[/IMG] [editline]8th June 2014[/editline] first thing that came to mind glad he's not dead though, would be a pretty scary way to go

[QUOTE=Fatfatfatty;45037163]probably a brake failure and the counterweight falling down.[/QUOTE] I thought Elevators had a thing on top of them that spins as it drops or raises, and it spins based on the speed of the elevator. Once the speed hits a certain point that thing spins and releases the brakes. I guess this elevator didn't have one since those things work in both directions

[QUOTE=DeEz;45037167]this is why I mostly avoid elevators unless I have to walk ten flights of stairs or something[/QUOTE] you could make it a bit more comedic and say "unless I have to walk up three steps or something"

[QUOTE=TheTalon;45037276]I thought Elevators had a thing on top of them that spins as it drops or raises, and it spins based on the speed of the elevator. Once the speed hits a certain point that thing spins and releases the brakes. I guess this elevator didn't have one since those things work in both directions[/QUOTE] Are you talking about a governor? I haven't ever seen one on a lift before, since they're almost entirely electronic

[QUOTE=Zukriuchen;45037217]i wonder, would lying on the floor be the best option in this situation?[/QUOTE] you'd still smash your head on impact

I sort of get a feeling that elevators need to have some kind of an emergency system which shoots spikes or stopping metal plates out of the sides that rapidly collide with the walls of the shaft and suspend the elevator in place, regardless of the incident involving it crashing down or crashing upwards.

Looks more likely to be an electronics failure considering the door started to spazz out.

[QUOTE=AK'z;45037367]you'd still smash your head on impact[/QUOTE] Good thing lying down spreads out the weight.

This reminded me of this: [video=youtube;e6q2cl5czXo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6q2cl5czXo[/video]

[QUOTE=Zukriuchen;45037217]i wonder, would lying on the floor be the best option in this situation?[/QUOTE] I have no idea how powerful the impact would be, but I'm guessing holding on to something would be better. Unless it's so powerful it'd either break your arms or just send you flying anyway.

[QUOTE=Twitty;45037393]This reminded me of this: [video=youtube;e6q2cl5czXo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6q2cl5czXo[/video][/QUOTE] reminded me more of this: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSUr4vD5-mk[/media]

Because falling elevators are too cliché.

[QUOTE=genkaz92;45037376]I sort of get a feeling that elevators need to have some kind of an emergency system which shoots spikes or stopping metal plates out of the sides that rapidly collide with the walls of the shaft and suspend the elevator in place, regardless of the incident involving it crashing down or crashing upwards.[/QUOTE] No they don't. Elevators are already extremely safe. It takes a ridiculous amount of neglect and/or mechanical stress to induce something like this video.

Recently moved into an apartment on the 6th floor, have all ways been using stairs, its freakin free exercise

Should of jumped, just like that one Mythbusters episode.

You know i sometimes have nightmares similiar to this..

The best position in that situation would probably be lying on your back, legs up. Still likely to hit your head, but more of the impact would be put on your legs. I doubt I would have thought of doing that if I was in the guy's situation though.

literally had a dream about being in this situation last week aaah i would have a heart attack before i reached the top

I don't like or trust elevators. It sucks, because some buildings I've been in have the stairs blocked off by a locked door that only residents, not visitors have access to the keys for. Normally, I choose the stairs every single time. Elevators just give me a sense of ultimate paranoia, if I'm not inside worrying the worst can go wrong, as I'm exiting the things, I'm worried it's going to give out right as I'm crossing the gap, and it'll crush me in half.

[QUOTE=Zukriuchen;45037217]i wonder, would lying on the floor be the best option in this situation?[/QUOTE] I don't think it would make much of a difference. At 50mph, you're gonna hit the ceiling no matter what. The only advantage I can see it that hopefully you'll still be laying flat when you hit the ceiling, lessening the chance of your spine crumpling if you hit the ceiling head first standing vertically. It's just a miracle the impact didn't snap the rest of the cables sending the elevator back down 31 floors. [editline]8th June 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=Yogkog;45038020]The best position in that situation would probably be lying on your back, legs up. Still likely to hit your head, but more of the impact would be put on your legs. I doubt I would have thought of doing that if I was in the guy's situation though.[/QUOTE] This wouldn't help, you'd just break your legs and your hip would act as a fulcrum propelling your head into the ceiling at an ever faster speed. There really is no "best position", maybe curling up into a ball covering your neck with your hands, but honestly he's incredibly lucky to be alive.

[QUOTE=icedt;45037831]Should of jumped, just like that one Mythbusters episode.[/QUOTE] wouldn't have worked, as his body would still have the same vector as before, jumping wouldn't slow his ascent, it would speed it up, and as such create a worse injury

[QUOTE=BrickInHead;45038166]wouldn't have worked, as his body would still have the same vector as before, jumping wouldn't slow his ascent, it would speed it up, and as such create a worse injury[/QUOTE] If he'd jumped into the roof as he hit, he'd probably be dead. Never taking icedt's advice.